In a little over a year the tiny Himalayan kingdom has taken the giant step of welcoming the most discerning of five-star travellers to the country.
In fact, Bhutan appears to be an attractive place for investors. Two renowned hoteliers have opened properties in the kingdom - Adrian Zecha of Amanresorts and Christina Ong of Metropolitan Hotels and Como resorts.
There are a number of historical monuments in the country which hold immense importance and attract tourists from around the globe. These include ancient Bhutanese arts and artifacts, cultural heritage-weapons and stamps, birds and animals and an incredible collection of silver teaware. They present the eclectic beauty of Bhutan and symbolize the history of one of the world’s most pristine people- the people of Bhutan.
One of the major characteristics of Bhutanese is their diversity, acceptability and peaceful co-existence. The differences between Eastern and Western Bhutan are far greater than the high pass that separates them. Perhaps like the Scots and the English, there are subtle but marked differences. But despite all these differences and dissimilarities, they live in peace and accept the mutual differences as unalienable facts of human lives.
Paro Valley has played a significant role in the history of Bhutan. The valley had close relations with Tibet, which helped build several important buildings in the region. The historical monuments still hold enormous cultural value not only for Paro Valley but also for the whole of Bhutan.
Tourists are attracted to Paro Valley because of its natural beauty. Natural scenery and the natural glamour of the valley seem to fill the viewers’ heart with joy. Phobjika glacier in the valley has been designated by the government as a secured area. The glacier is not affected by pollution, contrary to many other glaciers across the world. Black Mountain National Park is the home of some rare creatures. Rocky and craggy mountains and undisturbed serenity are the major characteristics of the Paro valley.
There are a number of temples in Paro, including Kyichu Lhakhang, which dates back to the 7th century, when Buddhism first arrived in Bhutan. The most notable among the historical monuments is Taktsang monastery, situated in the Paro valley in western Bhutan.
The monastery is one of most famous in the world. It is perched on a cliff 900 meters above the valley and is a worth-seeing historical sight. Visitors from around the globe visit the site when visiting Bhutan. It is also known as the “Tiger’s Nest” because Guru Rimpoche is known to have flown on the back of a tigress in the eight century. He then meditated in a cave here for three months where the monastery was later built. The cave is said to be the origin of Bhuddism in Bhutan.
The monastery caught fire in 1998. The process of rebuilding it is still on but the holy cave has been found intact after the disaster. The monastery is located only 20 minutes north of Paro on a two hour hike from the base of the hill. Pilgrims come from all over Bhutan to pay a visit to this amazing place.
Before the fire, the monastery-temple was full of sacred silk hangings decorated with images of Buddhist figures known as thangkas, statues and holy relics collected over centuries. It also had one of the finest collections of paintings from early Buddhist history. Although entry to the inner shrine was barred to most non-Buddhist foreigners, the mountainside was a place of pilgrimage for thousands and the first site tourists asked to see in Bhutan.
Tourists are attracted to Paro Valley because of its natural beauty. Natural scenery and the natural glamour of the valley seem to fill the viewers’ heart with joy. Phobjika glacier in the valley has been designated by the government as a secured area. The glacier is not affected by pollution, contrary to many other glaciers across the world. Black Mountain National Park is the home of some rare creatures. Rocky and craggy mountains and undisturbed serenity are the major characteristics of the Paro valley.
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